Big Game

An early version of my story on Hogan, scheduled for Thursday’s Bay Area News Group papers, is below. But first, here’s a link to beat writer Jeff Faraudo’s fun read on Jared Goff’s growing celebrity on campus.

The Hogan story // …

STANFORD – Quarterback Kevin Hogan would not discuss his future at Stanford last week prior to what might have been his last home game or this week before what might be his final Big Game. But it’s not just the public and press that Hogan is keeping at a distance.

“He didn’t want to talk about it in the spring with me,’’ Cardinal coach David Shaw said.

This much is clear: Hogan, a fourth-year junior who is on track to graduate in June, is contemplating a jump to the NFL.

He and Shaw agreed months ago that the best course would be to table any discussions during the season and submit paperwork to the draft advisory board in December. The feedback will help determine whether Hogan returns for his senior year.

“It’s something I’ve really not thought about,’’ he said Tuesday night. “Something I’ll do at the appropriate time is weigh the pros and cons of everything and try and make the best life decision.

“I love this place. You only get so many years playing in college. That’s something that weighs huge.”

That was an eight-point game in name (or score) only. It was clear early that USC was locked in and the Bears had no chance to win.

But if you’re an Old or Young Blue, it might have been encouraging to hear HC Sonny Dykes eschew any talk of a moral victory or “putting up a good fight” or being “proud the guys didn’t give up.”

Instead, he was pragmatic: “Our job is to win the game. … It doesn’t matter how you do it.”

It’s deep into Dykes’ second season and all about wins.

Speaking of wins: The Bears still need one more.

I’ll have more on Big Game below and throughout the week, but let’s just say many of the issues Cal faced against USC will be present when it plays Stanford.

The Cardinal isn’t as good offensively as USC (obviously), but it’s better defensively (obviously). I’ve thought for weeks that Cal’s bowl berth would hinge on the outcome of the BYU game and have seen nothing … including Stanford’s spotty offense … to change that view.

*** The Bay Area News Group will have much more on Big Game this week. Check back on the Hotline, Faraudo’s BearTalk blog or the BANGwebsites for more coverage.

*** To my column (early/unedited version) …

Don’t be misled by the calendar, the weather or the weirdness of it all. This week’s Big Game is no less significant than those played on the traditional weekends in late November.

In fact, the early arrival makes Saturday’s showdown more significant because it will influence a greater portion of each team’s season.

Stanford and Cal are works in progress, searching for identity and trajectory. Everything’s on the line in Berkeley– from a shot at the conference title to one coach’s job security to a host of postseason possibilities for both teams.

“A lot of times, when they play at the end of the year, you know the (bowl) spots down to one or two,’’ said Gary Cavalli, the executive director of the San Francisco-based Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl who will be attending his 44th Big Game on Saturday.

“But right now, it’s wide open … It’s a crucial game for both teams.’’

2:20 p.m. update: The schools aren’t happy about the date and made that fairly clear in their remarks.

Cal athletic director Sandy Barbour said she was “very disappointed” in the decision but added: “Although Cal and Stanford were opposed to the schedule that was ultimately adopted because of the placement of the Big Game, we remain a full participant in the conference’s decision-making and governance process.”

Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby said the Oct. 20 date “is certainly not our first choice but the conference is governed by the will of the majority.”

There were three scheduling models on the table. One had Big Game slotted for Nov. 17, one had it on Thanksgiving weekend, and one placed it on Oct. 20.

Both Cal and Stanford were opposed to playing Thanksgiving weekend, according to Bowlsby, because of the holiday conflicting with events associated with Big Game.

Stanford took a significant step towards an appearances in the Rose Bowl sitting in its Palo Alto hotel Friday night, while Andrew Luck all but clinched the Heisman Trophy.

Both developments came as the result of the stunner from Ames, where unranked Iowa State toppled No. 2 Oklahoma State.

First, the bowl picture:

*** OSU’s loss clears the way for a one-loss team (likely Alabama or Oregon, but don’t completely discount Oklahoma and Arkansas) to face Louisiana State in the national championship game.

And if Oregon gets in — have to think Bama’s the slight favorite at this point — then a spot would open in the Rose Bowl for Stanford if the Cardinal beats Cal on Saturday … and maybe even if it doesn’t.

Pac-12 football fans have become accustomed in recent years to rivalry games not being the final game of the regular season.

But starting in 2012, at least one ancient rivalry will be moved up in the schedule — way up.

Nothing is final, but get ready for the Big Game in early November or … dare we say it … the Civil War in mid-October.

Every rivalry game is at risk of being moved at some point in the near future.

“Given the complexities of the scheduling,” Pac-12 deputy commissioner Kevin Weiberg told me today, “we can’t commit to having the rivalry games stay on Thanksgiving week or the weekend before Thanksgiving.”

Weiberg said the conference will make every attempt to:

1) Limit the number of rivalry games moved up in the schedule in any given season (it may only be one or two), and